Looking Backward

What The Wave Said

20 Years Ago... Despite promises by city officials to cease dumping in the Edgemere Landfill by trucks from other sanitation districts, the dumping continues. Late night and early morning drivers passing by the landfill have reported seeing trucks with the code QS13 painted on the side. The QS13 designates the trucks coming from areas outside Rockaway. They arrive between midnight and eight in the morning, dump, and return to their garages for another crew to take out and refill.

Amidst a chorus of "oohs and ahhs," Rockaway's 1986 version of Family Day came to a conclusion with a beautiful fireworks display, August 7. The fireworks, a product of Grucci, went off at 9 p.m. from the beach at 116 Street. Generous contributions from individuals and businesses made the production possible. A full list of contributors will be published in The Wave as soon as all contributions have been received by the Rockaway Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Tubridy of the Pier 92 Restaurant will host a cocktail party on August 28, as an initial fundraiser for Democrat Congressional Candidate Floyd Flake in the Rockaways. "Any political campaign needs money to effectively get their message out to the people, and Flake's campaign is no different. I urge anyone who would like to financially support Floyd Flake to contact me for reservations," says Tubridy.

The Wave, Rockaway's Newspaper Since 1893, will co-sponsor a candidate's debate August 27 at 7 p.m. at the Sam Levenson Theatre. Joining The Wave in sponsoring the event will be the League of Women Voters and the Independent Democrats.

The Wave and the League of Woman Voters will host a candidate debate at the Sam Levinson Theater on Seagirt Boulevard in Far Rockaway next week. Those running in the primary for the Congressional seat that represents Rockaway are Alton Waldon, the Reverend Floyd Flake, Simeon Golar and Hulbert James. The winner of the Democratic primary in September will face Republican candidate Richard "Bo" Dietl in the November general election. The public is invited to the debate, which will be held at 7 p.m. on August 27. Moderators will come from the sponsoring organizations and the Hartman Y.

30 Years Ago... Last week's Wave carried a story about a 15-year-old boy who was pulled from the surf. It was inadvertently left out that the boy was pulled out by Frank McGrory and Bobby Zimmer who happened to be surfing in the area.

West enders be wary. The remains of the old Commodore Hotel are in the process of being leveled. Make sure you realize what is to take its place before the structure is erected.

The Far Rockaway Five Towns Rotary will bury the first time capsule on the east coast, September 12. The location will be at Rock Hall in Lawrence and this will be a tricentennial capsule.

Imagine, three to five million dollars in damages to the new beaches by Hurricane Belle. This was the second major overhaul of the beaches in the past 10 years. When do we stop throwing money away and do the job right?

40 Years Ago... Nine people were injured last night when two cars collided at the Freeway and Beach 86 Street in Hammels. Eight of the nine were in one car going north on Beach 80 Street.

Peninsula Hospital Center has announced plans for an 18,800 square foot addition to its present facility. It is to expand the hospital's bed capacity by 32 and to create new office space.

Peter McKay of Arvrerne has informed The Wave that there seems to be some progress on the proposed federal flood control plan for Jamaica Bay.

Rockaway surfers are entered as a team (the Rockaway Beach Surf Club) in the Atlantic States Surfing Contest at Seaside Heights, New Jersey. Representing Rockaway are: Daniel McClean, William Saunter, and Jim Williams of Rockaway Beach and Ed Brennan of Edgemere.

50 Years Ago... City housing officials expect to take title of the site for the low-rent Edgemere Houses in December. According to city engineers, plans and specifications are one-third completed.

Members of the Rockaway Beach Property Owners Association were told last night by Captain John P. Drake, Commander of the 101 Precinct that Rockaway has little or no juvenile delinquency problems and narcotics traffic.

Link-up of the new IND Rockaway line with the IND subway at Whitepot Junction moved a step closer as the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission has scheduled public hearings on the proposed extension on September 10.

City Parks Commissioner Robert Moses' plan to make a park out of the entire Rockaway beachfront will soon materialize with the acquisition of oceanfront property between Beach 9 and 19 Streets in Far Rockaway.